Synonyms of partisan

partisan 1 of 2

adjective

as in partial

inclined to favor one side over another

a shamelessly partisan reporter covering the primary campaign

Synonyms & Similar Words

• partial
• hostile
• distorted
• biased
• colored
• one-sided
• prejudiced
• interested
• influenced
• parti pris
• concerned
• warped
• inimical
• jaundiced
• shaded
• swayed
• unfriendly
• persuaded
• misrepresented
• unsympathetic
• convinced
• predisposed
• prepossessed
• affected

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• neutral
• nonpartisan
• impartial
• objective
• equal
• equitable
• disinterested
• unbiased
• fair
• open
• unprejudiced
• evenhanded
• reasonable
• receptive
• bipartisan
• honest
• independent
• just
• autonomous
• dispassionate
• impersonal
• cold
• detached
• distant
• open-minded
• aloof
• remote
• unemotional
• indifferent
• persuasible
• apathetic
• uninterested
• unconcerned
• hardheaded
• unenthusiastic
• incurious
• uncurious

partisan

2 of 2

noun

ˈpär-tə-zən 

variants also partizan

1

as in adherent

one who follows the opinions or teachings of another

partisans of the charismatic leader refuse to tolerate any criticism of him at all

Synonyms & Similar Words

• adherent
• follower
• disciple
• supporter
• apostle
• missionary
• acolyte
• pupil
• votary
• devotee
• soldier
• student
• scholar
• admirer
• epigone
• liege man
• fan
• advocate
• loyalist
• votarist
• convert
• sectarian
• faithful
• protégé
• ideologist
• zealot
• champion
• ideologue
• proselytizer
• sycophant
• minion
• cultist
• enthusiast
• satellite
• worshipper
• lackey
• henchman
• idolater
• stooge
• toady
• camp follower
• lickspittle
• yes-man
• apparatchik
• backer
• hanger-on
• flunky
• myrmidon

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• leader
• traitor
• renegade
• turncoat
• defector
• coryphaeus
• apostate

2

as in militant

one who is intensely or excessively devoted to a cause

a partisan of the revolution who was even willing to give her life for it

Synonyms & Similar Words

• militant
• crusader
• activist
• ideologue
• zealot
• fanatic
• supporter
• advocate
• fan
• dreamer
• lover
• true believer
• champion
• promoter
• red hot
• disciple
• idealist
• patron
• visionary
• sucker
• follower
• enthusiast
• apostle
• fool
• maniac
• devotee
• votary
• stalwart
• hound
• buff
• cultist
• nut
• freak
• bug
• junkie
• evangelist
• booster
• hanger-on
• aficionado
• fancier
• fiend
• addict
• backer
• idolizer
• head
• habitué
• faddist
• maven
• rooter
• well-wisher

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dilettante
• dabbler
• nonmilitant

3

as in sectarian

one who stubbornly or intolerantly adheres to his or her own opinions and prejudices

she's too much of a political partisan to ever concede that the other side might have a valid point

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sectarian
• nationalist
• fanatic
• bigot
• dogmatist
• racist
• purist
• dogmatizer
• doctrinaire
• supremacist
• jingoist
• chauvinist
• sexist
• racialist

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• liberal
• freethinker
• latitudinarian

Synonym Chooser

How is the word partisan different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of partisan are adherent, disciple, and follower. While all these words mean "one who gives full loyalty and support to another," partisan suggests a zealous often prejudiced attachment.

partisans of the President

When could adherent be used to replace partisan?

The synonyms adherent and partisan are sometimes interchangeable, but adherent suggests a close and persistent attachment.

adherents to Marxism

When might disciple be a better fit than partisan?

While the synonyms disciple and partisan are close in meaning, disciple implies a devoted allegiance to the teachings of one chosen as a master.

disciples of Gandhi

When can follower be used instead of partisan?

Although the words follower and partisan have much in common, follower may apply to people who attach themselves either to the person or beliefs of another.

an evangelist and his followers

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of partisan

Adjective

With the embrace of partisan gerrymandering and geographic sorting, where individuals gravitate toward politically similar populations, few races are competitive on election day. — Jack Harvel august 12, Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2026

Statewide voter turnout in partisan primaries has typically hovered around 25%. — Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Noun

Reynolds tracks the willingness of northern partisans—Carl Schurz, Horace Greeley, Lyman Trumbull, and even Sumner himself—to abandon that cause by the dwindling references to Jamestown and Plymouth. — James Traub, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026

Meanwhile, partisans continued to spar over dozens of Republican bills that would allow voters to lower property taxes for homeowners by raising sales taxes on everyone. — David Wickert, AJC.com, 23 June 2026